Srinagar, July 5 -- The Ladakh administration is planning to hold the Black-necked Crane Festival 2026. The proposed festival, planned for the second half of August 2026, seeks to celebrate the iconic Black-necked Crane while showcasing the ecological, cultural, and economic significance of Ladakh's high-altitude wetlands. A senior officer in Leh said the proposed festival will have multiple objectives. "The main aim is to celebrate the iconic Black-necked Crane while showcasing the ecological, cultural, and economic significance of Ladakh's high-altitude wetlands," he said, adding that the festival is envisioned as a platform to strengthen conservation awareness, encourage sustainable tourism, and create livelihood opportunities for local communities. Recently, a meeting was chaired by Ladakh chief secretary to finalise the festival's details. A detailed presentation was given by concerned officers highlighting the rationale behind the festival and the global importance of the Changthang wetlands ecosystem. "The black-necked crane is a symbol of harmony between biodiversity, culture, and spirituality in the Trans-Himalayan region," the presentation noted. It also explored the growing global bird tourism economy, projected tourism revenue opportunities, lessons from Bhutan's successful Black-necked Crane Festival, and the vision and objectives for Ladakh's proposed festival, said an officer. Ladakg chief secretary outlined the concept of developing five key crane destinations in Changthang. He also proposed festival activities including birdwatching experiences, field visits, technical sessions, livelihood exhibitions, cultural programmes, and strategies to position Ladakh as a premier bird tourism destination. The chief secretary underscored the immense potential of bird tourism as a growing global sector and stressed the need for Ladakh to leverage its unique biodiversity assets in a sustainable manner....